- CustomLinks_5
- Titusville Talking Points January 2020 ADA
Titusville Talking Points January 2020 ADA Accessible
This version of Titusville Talking Points has been formatted to help those who use assistive technology to better read the document.
Titusville Talking Points
January 2020
?
What's Happening in Titusville? Here are the newest updates for what's going on in town:
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020 and a new decade as Titusville continues to grow and prosper. In this issue is a plethora of exciting things coming our way in the new year, including new business growth and other economic news courtesy of Troy Post from the North Brevard Economic Development Zone. We also take a look at two major nature attractions in Titusville: the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, and Playalinda Beach. And, we learn all about how a local retired couple took their golden years and turned them into a mission to help improve the lives of the people in Uganda.
We look forward to a wonderful and prosperous new year for everyone here in the City of Titusville!?
****
Table of Contents
New and Continued Projects – Page 1
North Brevard Economic News – Page 7
Feature Stories – Page 9
Cover Story – Page 13
City Gov News – 21
Completed & Open – 27
Talking Points Staff:
Jim Thomas - Managing Director
Kurtis Korwan & Shane Daily - Design/Photojournalism
City of Titusville Social Media
Facebook - cityoftitusville
Twitter - @Titusville
Instagram - @cityoftitusville
Youtube - CityofTitusville
New & Continued Projects
Hope Hammock
A site plan is under review for a 9-unit multi-family development located at the northwest corner of Palmetto Street and South Brown Avenue.
Titusville Point
Crews are already at work, clearing the land and preparing for installation of utilities, drive aisles, landscaping, and other site-related infrastructure at Titusville Point. Located at the corner of SR 405 and Cheney Highway, the plan includes three commercial buildings that are currently under review, which include a Discount Tire, a Cumberland Farms, and Aspen Dental.
Community Credit Union
Ground construction and preparation are under way for the new Community Credit Union, located on US 1, at the former site of Wendy’s, across from Titus Landing.
Life Storage Expansion
Site construction continues for an expansion of the existing storage business located at 1903 Garden Street. The structure is growing larger by the day, as crews construct a three-story, in-door, climate-controlled storage center.
Titusville Storage
Site construction continues for the redevelopment of the former Kmart building into indoor, climate controlled storage located at 810 Cheney Highway.
Hoffman’s Table
A new restaurant is coming to Downtown Titusville in the next few months, in the location of the former Crescent Coffee Company.
Talking Points - January 2020 - Page 1
New & Continued Projects
River Palms
Site construction continues for 100-residential condominium units within two buildings, with associated amenities at 1805 Riverside Drive.
Willow Creek
Land clearing has begun for phase one of the Willow Creek subdivision, located on Grissom Pkwy, south of the airport. This phase will consist of 70 single-family-home lots.
Cosmic Creamery & Creations
Garrison Construction of Titusville is busy finishing up a new ice cream and dessert restaurant located in Titus Landing, around the corner from Ulta Cosmetics. No word yet on when it will open.?
St. Stephen’s
A large church building now stands in front of St. Stephen’s on US 1 south of SR 50, as crews continue to work on the new addition to the Christian Retreat Center.
South Carpenter Estates
Several homes have been finished, and several more are under construction at the subdivision being developed on South Carpenter Road, just north of Fox Lake Road. When completed, there will be 70 single-family homes in the neighborhood.
Aero Electronics
Work is nearing completion at Aero Electronics System’s new 10,000-square-foot manufacturing and testing facility, located at 411 South Park Avenue, just south of Garden Street.?
Talking Points - January 2020 - Page 2
New & Continued Projects
Luna Trails
Construction is nearing completion on the 84-unit, three-story apartment complex located at Deleon Avenue and Sycamore Street.
Courtyard by Marriott
Crews are busily constructing the first floor and surrounding ground work for a new 152-room, five-story hotel, located on the grounds of the former U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Hyatt Place
Work is nearly complete on the new Hyatt Hotel, located adjacent to the Boeing complex on south US 1, at Riverfront Center Blvd. The new hotel will consist of 119 rooms, a two-story office and retail building, and an observation deck to view launches from.
Park Preserve
More homes are being finished every week as work nears completion for the 39-lot, single-family-home subdivision located at the corner of South Park Avenue and Knox McRae Drive.
Extended Stay Hotel
Exterior surface coatings and paint are being added to the walls of the new 124-room, four-story hotel located at the southern-most end of Helen Hauser Blvd, off of SR 50, just west of I-95.
La Hacienda
Several new homes are nearing completion in this new residential neighborhood being constructed just west of LaCita Country Club, on Country Club Blvd.
Talking Points - January 2020 - Page 3
New & Continued Projects
Let’s Roll Space Coast
A Conditional Use Permit for a new skating rink will come to the Planning and Zoning Commission on January 21, and then City Council on January 28, for a new 21,000+ square-foot facility located near Publix on Garden Street. The venue will consist of a roller skating rink, snack bar, arcade, dessert room, and five themed birthday party rooms: Pink Princess, Rockstar, Sports, Let’s Celebrate, and Ice Princess.
If the permit is approved, the company plans to begin construction immediately.
Beachwave
Site work continues for a 16,800 square foot commercial plaza that includes a retail store, restaurant and second floor open air tiki bar and observation deck located at the southwest corner of Garden Street and Indian River Avenue.
Santiago and Friends
Santiago and Friends Family Center for Autism recently received a Business Tax Receipt to open an office at 4403 South Hopkins. Santiago and Friends offers ABA therapy, speech therapy, and other special needs training for family living with Autism.?
New Businesses in Town
Below is a list of just some of the new business tax receipts (commonly referred to as business licenses) issued in Titusville since October of 2019.?
- Accountant ERNEST RESTINA CPA, PA
- Administration Office BREVARD SOLAR LLC
- Beauty Salon/Barbershop HAIR KHEMISTRY STUDIO LLC
- Bookkeeping Tax Service SPACE COAST TAX & ACCOUNTING LLC
- Building Contractor SATURN BUILDERS OF BREVARD
- Building Contractor LAWSON MASONRY & ?CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
- Building Contractor STEEL HAMMER CONSTRUCTION
- Building Contractor WB CONTRACTING, INC.
- Building Contractor PIERCE, INC DBA QUALITY GARAGE DOOR SERVICES
- Cabinet-Millwork (SPC) BRAGG CABINET DESIGNS AND NSTALLATION
- Carnival/Fair DOOLAN AMUSEMENT COMPANY
- Chiropractor LIVING WELL CHIROPRACTIC
- Civic Organization LATINO LEADERSHIP, INC. DBA SANTIAGO & FRIENDS FAMILY CENTER FOR AUTSIM
- Concrete Forming/Placing COOMER CONCRETE CONTRACTORS, INC.
- Dentist Associate GARY RANDALL GIBSON DMD
- Electrical Contractor LOWE ELECTRIC LLC
- Electrical Contractor RANDALL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.
- Handyman Repair GOLDEN HANDS REMODELING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
- Handyman Repair ADAM GIBSON
- Janitorial Commercial THE HEART THAT SMILES CLEANING COMPANY LLC
- Lawn Maintenance COASTAL LAWN CARE & LANDSCAPING LLC
- Lawn Maintenance JORGE NIEVES
- Lawn Maintenance GLACIER LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPING
- Lawn Maintenance FRUGALMANS “LLC”
- Manufacturing Firm HALLCRAFT MACHINING, INC.
- Photographer/Studio TANEAL HOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY
- Plumbing Contractor ROWTON PLUMBING INC
- Printing/Publication STARLINE EDUCATION INC
- Restaurant MARCOT PLATINUM, LLC DBA C’S WAFFLES
- Restaurant DUKE’S THAI & AMERICAN FOOD
- Restaurant OLDE BANK TAVERN
- Restaurant MOONLIGHT DRIVE-IN LLC
- Restaurant REARVIEW COFFEE LLC
- Restaurant BAMBOO GARDEN SUPER BUFFET, INC.
- Retail Sales WALL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP INC
- Retail Sales TITUSVILLE ANTIQUE MALL LLC
- Retail Sales SOUTHERN FAITH BOUTIQUE
- Retail Sales COTTON’S ESTATE TREASURES
- Swimming Pool Maint. DANIEL BIRCH
- Towing/Wrecking Service SPACE COAST TOWING & STORAGE, LLC.
- Unspecified Business KONA ICE NORTH SPACE COAST
- Unspecified Business ROCKET CITY REAL ESTATE
- Unspecified Business ALPINE PROPERTY PRESERVATION, INC.
- Unspecified Business EDENS CARING HEART INC
- Unspecified Business DESHLER DIAGNOSTICS, INC
- Unspecified Business CREATIVE PLACES, LLC
- Unspecified Personal ESSENTIAL HEALTH & HEALING HANDS LLC
- Unspecified Personal LET’S TALK 180, LLC
- Unspecified Professional CHARIS COUNSELING CENTER
- Wholesale Sales E3 TELE ACOUSTICS
Talking Points - January 2020 - Page 4
New & Continued Projects
Community Redevelopment Agency
(CRA) Updates
The FY2020 CRA Budget includes funds for the resurfacing of Orange Street west of Hopkins Avenue, Pine Street west of Hopkins Avenue, and Lemon Avenue south of Garden Street.
Sidewalk infills, repairs and ADA improvements are proposed for sections of Orange Street, Broad Street and Lemon Avenue.
Additionally, the CRA approved a part-time maintenance worker moving to a full-time position in order to keep up with the demand of keeping the downtown area well groomed.
Titusville Talking Points Cover Photo Donated by Jim Boland?
A huge thanks to Jim Boland, who donated the photo used in this issue’s cover of Titusville Talking Points! The photo was also used in an ad for the 23rd Annual Space Coast Birding and
Wildlife Festival!
Jim Boland is a long time resident of Titusville. His passion for bird photography was sparked when some ducks visited a nearby stormwater retention pond some 15 years ago. The image of the Pileated Woodpecker was taken in his Titusville neighborhood. Jim is retired from the aerospace industry having worked over 30 years on
the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs. Jim is also retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
Jim has won numerous awards for his photography and has been published in several publications. Jim is a volunteer for the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. His photography is for sale at The Downtown Gallery here in Titusville where Jim is one of the
resident artists.
Visit Jim’s instagram page @jsblnd and take a look at nature through his viewfinder.
Observation Pier Feasibility
A feasibility study was approved by the CRA to examine whether it is feasible to connect the Spaceview/Mercury Memorial portion of Spaceview Park to the Spaceview/Gemini portion of Spaceview Park with an observation – walking pier. If determined as feasible to construct, the
pier would provide an additional area to view launches as well as connectivity between parks on the waterfront.?
Talking Points - January 2020 - Page 5
The Trail Trifecta - March 18 – 21, 2020
Where Adventures Converge | #LaunchFromHere
This March, Three Awesome Trail-Related Events are Coming to Historic Downtown Titusville!?
MARCH 18 - The Florida Bicycle Tourism Conference Bike Florida Special Event
For those who are interested in developing bicycle tourism as an economic driver that helps improve both the local health of citizens and quality of life across our communities. This one day gathering promises a varied range of valuable discussions and partnership possibilities. FEATURING SPEAKER. DAN BURDEN, Director of Inspiration and Innovation for BLUE ZONES. Named by Time Magazine as one of the most important civic innovators in the world, there will be two opportunities to hear Dan present, and you may want to ensure you are part of both.?
MARCH 19-20 - The Florida St. John’s River to Sea Loop Summit
This summit event focuses on an important regional trail—the St. Johns River to Sea Loop–that goes through 5 counties, including Brevard, converging with the Coast to Coast Trail and the East Coast Greenway, in Titusville. Summit Day: March 19 - The Summit will feature presentations, breakout sessions, lunch tours, and more! Action Plan Workshop Day: March 20?
MARCH 21 - RIDE IT DOWN 2, Our Annual Community Fun on the Trails Day Event
This is a celebration of our multi-use trails in North Brevard and the convergence of three major trail networks right here in Titusville: Coast to Coast Trail, St. Johns River to Sea Loop, and the East Coast Greenway. Ride begins at our Downtown Welcome Center and ends with an After Party at Sand Point Park—with food, music, vendors and family activities.?
Learn more & share your adventure at: LaunchFromHere.com
Launch From Here is a local campaign created by the people who love to live here, for the people who live here.
Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com.LaunchFromHere
Follow us on Twitter at @LaunchFromHere
City of Titusville
Relocation Information: Economic Development @Titusville.com
Website: Titusville.com
Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce
Vacation Information
Info@Titusville.org
Website: Titusville.org
Talking Points - January 2020 - Page 6
North Brevard Economic Report
Troy Post, NBEDZ
Engineered Bonding Solutions to build new manufacturing plant
Engineered Bonding Solutions, a chemical processing manufacturer of structural adhesives, has announced plans to purchase a 4.5-acre lot in the Spaceport Commerce Park in Titusville for the construction of a new 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The project, including new capital equipment installation and a state-of-the-art mixing and packaging system, is expected to cost approximately $1.5 million. Currently the company employs 19 people, but it anticipates the creation of 15 new jobs once the facility is fully operational.
The company is best known for its product ACRA Lock, which is designed to chemically adhere to most surfaces, including steel, aluminum, engineered plastics, and high-performance composites; it’s primarily used as an adhesive in the marine industry, but also has applications in aerospace and aviation. For more information on the company, visit their website at www.acralock.com.
MJW Consolidated to open pipe fabrication plant in Spaceport Commerce Park.
MJW Consolidated, a Jacksonville-based firm that designs, fabricates, and assembles fire suppression systems, has announced plans to purchase a 5-acre lot in Spaceport Commerce Park. The new facility, which will include a pipe fabrication operation, is expected to cost approximately $2 million and employ more
than 15 people. Through its operating units, the company performs work for numerous industrial and commercial enterprises like Blue Origin and Praxair, along with government and institutional leaders, such as the U.S. Department of Defense
and NASA.
To learn more about MJW Consolidated, go to www.mjwood.com.
Dozier Crane to locate its regional service center on South Street in Titusville.
Dozier Crane, a Savannah, Georgia-based distributor and leasing firm for cranes used in construction and manufacturing projects, has taken possession of a 10,000-square-foot facility on SR 405, to serve as its Central Florida servicing center for equipment rentals and repair. The operation is expected to employ a number of technicians and sales professionals. The company, which began business in 1974, is an authorized dealer of Terex, Manitowoc, Kobelco, Shuttlelift, and other international and domestic brands; it services customers throughout the continental United States, and in more than 49 foreign countries. Additional
information on the company can be found at www.doziercrane.com.
LeNgineer launching new high-tech venture.
LeNgineer, a small federal contracting and engineering firm started right here in itusville by local entrepreneur Tuan Le in 2014, has announced plans to purchase a dilapidated structure on US 1 south of Cheney Highway for the location of a new venture called LeNnovation. The 8,000 square-foot building, which has been vacant since 2015, is expected to be renovated into office and light industrial areas for work on drone technology. The LeNnovation project is expected to cost approximately $2 million over the next three years, and employ more than 25 people.
The company is currently designing an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for rapid deployment and use in the military, construction, and service-sector industries; integrated with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, the drones produced by LeNnovation will be able to gather data on specific sites, whether a military target or a building construction lot. Through its parent company, LeNgineer, work has already been completed for the US Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) program. For more information on the company, visit www.LeNgineer.com.
Raider Outboards of Titusville named a “Company to Watch” by GrowFL
Titusville-based Raider Outboards, a manufacturer of high-performance outboard engines, has been selected by GrowFL as one of the state’s “Companies to Watch,” an annual recognition by GrowFL and the Edward Lowe Foundation. The list recognizes
those second-stage, Florida-based companies that are helping to diversify the state’s manufacturing economy through job creation and capital investment expenditures. Second-stage companies are defined as those with less than 150 full-time employees, and annual revenue between $750k and $100 million. Only five companies from Brevard County were named to the list.
The company, founded by George Woodruff in 2015, was named after an elite Marine Corps unit — the Raiders — which was formed during the Second World War to conduct amphibious light infantry warfare. At its Titusville facility, the company makes lightweight, two-cylinder engines specifically designed for use by the military; the engines can be completely submerged in water without bags, through the use of a de-watering system. To learn more about this “company to watch,” visit their website at ww.raideroutboards.com.
Space Coast real estate market growing by leaps and bounds!
“Months supply of inventory” of homes for sale dropped 20%, from 3.5 months in October 2018, to 2.8 months in November 2019. For additional information on key economic statistics for the North Brevard area, please visit www.NBEDZ.org and www.SpaceCoastMLS.com.
Employment numbers for Titusville look good, signifies growing economy.
The table below shows the latest economic statistics for the northern part of Brevard County, Florida (principally the communities of Mims, Port St. John, Scottsmoor, and Titusville), according to seasonally unadjusted figures from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.| Category | Current Year (NOV 2019) | Previous Year (NOV 2018) | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titusville Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 3.4% | |
| Titusville Labor Force Size | 21,726 | 21,132 | 2.81% |
| County Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 3.2% | |
| County Labor Force Size | 285,519 | 277,669 | 2.81% |
| State Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | 3.3% | |
| State Labor Force Size | 10,479,000 | 10,293,000 | 1.81% |
From Groceries to Good News - After two-and-a-half years, the doors are open and the Word is spreading
When the purchase was made in June 2017, everyone knew it was going to take a lot of hard work — and time — to bring a long-standing, long-empty and dilapidated former Gooding’s grocery store back to life as a house of worship. There was much that needed to be done, from structural to electrical; plumbing, flooring, wall construction, and more. The work would be difficult and tedious, but with the aid of Loyd Contracting, their crews and the church family set about the task of renovation, having faith their efforts would
pay off.
They did, because 911 days after buying the property, the doors of the new church building opened for its first service on Christmas Eve, 2019.
The construction on the building was divided into four phases, with phase one and two dedicated to getting the building up and running, and people in the pews — or chairs for now. Brad Russel, Lead Pastor of The Grove Church, explained how he and his leadership team were heavily involved with the design of the building; while Dustin Sams, the Executive Pastor, jokingly explained how he was the guy who really made things happen. On this particular day, some of the finishing work was still in progress, but Brad was happy to give a tour of their new home, pointing out all the work that congregants had already put in to making the place ready for use; details both big and small which make the place more personal. For example, a large mural made up of photographs taken around Titusville by Grove members. Also, near the main entrance, there is a large column that was part of the original store; a member squared it off and constructed a masonry brick column, as a tribute to Brad’s father.
The tour started in the front section Brad calls the community area, which is immediately inside the glass door front entrance that still resembles its days as a grocery store. At over 6,000 square feet in size, the space is large.
“This is a place for people to just gather and spend time together,” he said. “They can get a coffee or a snack at one of the stands.” He pointed out that the front area houses not one, but two snack bars for people to get coffee, drinks, small pastries, etc. One location is operated by the church’s mission partners and serves a few select coffees and free donuts; the other is actually a small storefront for Titusville’s Sunrise Bread Company, where they serve their coffee and some of the scones and other products that are found in their store in Downtown Titusville.
The community space is decked out to eventually look like an indoor main street, with the snack shops and other areas having their own mini roofs and facades. Also in this front area is an old 1950 Chevy 4400 truck, decked out like it just drove in from the orange groves hauling citrus for sale. The truck is quickly becoming a centerpiece for members taking pictures as it was recently decked out for Christmas, and the church plans to decorate it for different seasons and holidays
going forward.
“For Christmas, we had it decked out with Christmas trees in the back, people loved it.” Brad stated, explaining how the truck is for show only; they gutted it, cleaned it, and it now sits as an empty chassis for decoration only.
Another detail that Brad was eager to show was the vintage Gooding’s sign that was found in the middle of the old store when they purchased it in 2017. In pristine condition with no need for repairs, it was crated up and just sitting there. When they needed to move it to continue construction, it was decided to be used as a memento or call back to years past. Today it hangs above the missions’ snack bar, and — as Brad was eager to demonstrate — it still works.
Just off the community area is a large room that currently houses the growing children’s ministry, with room for kids of all ages. As phase two gets closer to completion, the children’s ministry totaling about 8,000 square feet will have multiple classrooms along a hallway painted to look like a Florida orange grove. Phase three will see a new 10,000-square-foot permanent children’s wing on the west side of the building, which would free up the front room to become an old-style, traditional looking chapel, complete with a façade of an old wood church in the front community area. Phase three will be no small undertaking either, as Brad estimated they need to raise approximately $600,000 in order to complete it.
In the center of the building is the main sanctuary. It is a large, cavernous room that comfortably seats 650 people and has multiple projection screens, modern audiovisual equipment, a large stage for worship and praise bands, and a moderately-sized room in the back for people to meet after services for prayer and encouragement. Adorned with several chairs and couches, it makes for a quiet place to gather and speak about anything.
“This is a place for people to meet privately and have a chat after a service,” he explained. “You know, up front it’s really loud, and after service everyone’s trying to head out. So we have this room here for people to just sit and talk, with its own exit out to the front.”
While work is far from done, the church’s new home is already coming alive with the energy of the staff and the congregation. Currently, The Grove has three services on Sundays, with the plan to introduce a fourth on Easter and see how it goes. Between the expanding children’s ministry, 3 worship services, community projects, and 45 home growth groups, the church is expanding and the new building is just big enough to house all the good work they are doing.
For the future, Brad and his team have a lot of ideas in store for the building. One plan, an idea for phase four, is to convert the upstairs area into 3,500 square feet for a private counseling center. Other ideas aren’t ready to be shared yet, but are really exciting to hear.
For more information about The Grove Church, visit their website at www.thegrovechurchfl.org, or stop by and see them at 1450 Harrison Street here in Titusville.
Moonlight Drive-In
The local icon Moonlight Drive-In isn’t going anywhere any time soon! The drive-in restaurant has been open since 1964, and is the last original drive-in in town. When the previous owners, the Hamed family, announced a few years ago that they were planning to retire, many wondered if the restaurant would remain open and continue to serve the community the old-fashioned burgers and shakes that they love so much. Thankfully, the new owners Shawn and Jessica Landry are keeping the restaurant open!
“Established in 1964, MoonLight is an original, carhop themed restaurant named to honor the Apollo program and their many missions to the moon,” says the restaurant’s website, MoonlightDriveIn.com. “Almost 60 years later, you can still get the classic burger, hot dog, sub sandwich or for the sweeter side, hand spun milkshakes and classic sundaes you have grown to love.”
The restaurant is keeping the staples of the old restaurant, along with new specialties such as Sweet Potato Waffle Fries, Apple Explosion Sundaes, Orange Cream Milkshakes, and more! The interior of the restaurant has also been restored with the classic diner décor. For more information, visit MoonlightDriveIn.com. Here’s to another 60 years of history!
Fun in the Sun at Playalinda Beach
One of Titusville’s biggest attractions is Playalinda Beach, a 24-mile-long beach along the Canaveral National Seashore. The shore is home to more than 1,000 plant species and 310 bird species, and is the longest undeveloped beach on the east coast of Florida. This makes it the perfect destination for locals and tourists alike who want to have a fun, relaxing day in the sun.
Sight-Seeing
Open from 6am - 6pm in the winter and 6am - 8pm in the summer, Playalinda Beach offers a beautiful view of the Atlantic, unobscured by construction or development. Visitors of Playalinda love it for its serene, undisturbed natural feel and quiet, peaceful charm. While many of Florida’s beaches have been developed with hotels, shops, and food stands, Playalinda is a breath of fresh air with uncontested views.The drive out to the beach crosses into the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Sightseers will easily spot turtles, gators, and exotic birds as they drive through the beautiful preserve. There’s even a visitor center for those who want to explore a little more of the refuge, which consists of over 140,000 acres and hosts more than 1,500 species of plants and wildlife, including 15 federally listed species. The visitor center is open seven days a week from 9am - 5pm.
For those who want a little more, the path includes a detour out to Black Point Wildlife Drive, which is a 7-mile, one-way drive through shallow marsh impoundments and pine flatwoods. It’s an excellent place to see waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and raptors, and sometimes visitors will catch a glimpse at alligators, otters, bobcats, and various other wildlife.
Playalinda offers magnificent views of rocket launches from the Kennedy Space Center. Located within 5 miles of the launch, the beach is one of the closest locations to the site on the Space Coast. Additionally, it offers a nice walk down the beach and plenty of space to set up camp for a comfortable launch-viewing experience!
Additionally, Playalinda will soon become the epicenter of Titusville’s multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trails. The Coast-To-Coast Trail, which starts in St. Petersburg, will complete its 250 mile journey at Playalinda Beach. The Coast-To-Coast Trail also overlaps with the St. Johns River-To-Sea Loop, a 260-mile trail underway in northeast Florida, which runs through five counties and encompasses part of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway.
Fishing
While the Space Coast is already a superb place to cast your line, Playalinda is a local fishing spot that has become something of a fan favorite. Our pristine beach is the perfect place for surf fishing, with no shops, condos, or restaurants along the shore to distract you from your beautiful natural surroundings.Playalinda is also home to a slew of different fish, with Whiting being the most common catch year-round. Pompano are also a popular catch in the cooler months of the year, along with Bluefish, Black Drum, and Croakers.
Sea Turtle Nesting
Many Titusville residents eagerly await the annual sea turtle nestings in the summer months. Between May and October, biologists monitor between 5,000 and 13,000 nests. More sea turtles nest on Canaveral National Seashore than any other National Park unit, making it an extremely popular tourist destination and an exciting annual tradition for locals. During the months of June and July, visitors can sign up for a FWCC permitted Turtle Watch program where the mother turtles can be seen swimming up to shore, laying her eggs, and returning to the ocean. Reservations begin every year on May 15th. For more information, call (386) 428-3384 ext. 0.There’s also an annual sea turtle festival celebrating the occasion in Downtown Titusville. This family friendly event includes a slew of turtle themed activities, such as arts and crafts, face painting, dance groups, and much more. The event is accompanied by a Thirsty Turtle Beer Brawl Kick Off Party for adults the night before, and an Indian River Lagoon Clean Up the morning of.
Surfing
Playalinda is a hidden gem when it comes to surfing. While you won’t find massive tides coming ashore, Playalinda is known for consistently decent waves on northern swells and an incoming tide. The Canaveral National Seashore is huge, spanning 13 different parking areas, so the water is never crowded and there is always plenty of room to catch a wave.Canaveral National Seashore Celebrates 45th Birthday
Canaveral National Seashore celebrated it’s 45th birthday on January 3, 2020. It was created through congressional legislation on January 3, 1975 (by Public Law 93-626) to preserve and protect the natural, scenic, scientific, ecological, archeological, and historical values and resources within the national seashore, and to provide for public outdoor recreational use and enjoyment of those resources.
The national seashore is managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which owns approximately two-thirds of the national seashore; and the adjacent Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
Florida is rich in native populations of wildlife and birds, but it is also along a busy route for migrating birds stopping over for the winter. Florida’s Space Coast – home to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore, and Kennedy Space Center, is one of the best birding locations in the United States because it is situated at the convergence of two zones — temperate and tropical — creating a natural diversity of unique habitats that attract varied bird species. The festival invites bird watchers of all ages, from beginners to veterans,
to attend.
After meeting with massive success last year, this year the team is also bringing back Space Coast Family Wildlife Adventure Day. This event focuses on bringing local families to the festival with activities and events geared for children along with families and friends. Included in the festivities is painting, nature journaling, and playing “Bird Detective”, along with many more activities. This year, Adventure Day is taking place on Saturday, January 25.
Local Impact
Presentations
Field Trips
Workshops and Classes
Exhibit Hall
Fostering Growth in Uganda - Safari Trip Inspires Titusville Couple to Provide Life-Changing Aid in Rural Africa
When most people reach retirement, they seek to simplify their lives and settle into their golden years with comfort and ease. However, for Titusville couple Henry and Roz Foster, this was simply never an option. Instead of taking it easy, Henry — a retired aerospace engineer and founder of the technical launch support company, Call Henry, Inc. — and his wife Roz — a local historian, president of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation, and manager of the Historic Pritchard House in Downtown Titusville — have been working on multiple life improvement programs in the small African country of Uganda for the past several years. There definitely is no driving in the slow lane for the Fosters.
The story began when Henry and Roz visited Uganda in 2014, where they found many people living in woeful conditions. Once referred to by Winston Churchill as the “pearl of Africa” due to its beauty, today it is the third poorest country in the world. Life expectancy for most Ugandans is only 52 years, and over 50 percent of its citizens are 25 years of age or less.
Water Health Program - Bringing Clean, Purified Water to Rural Uganda
As a result of their travels, the Fosters determined the health and life expectancy problem was caused by the unavailability of purified water and a lack of knowledge concerning waterborne, life-threating diseases — especially among the young. Waterborne diseases are the number one cause of sickness and death throughout the world, leading to more than 3.4 million deaths per year. Henry realized that even if he were to provide purified water to the people, he would also need to change their practices in order to really make a difference. He knew that education was the key to solving the problem, recalling how his son convinced him to stop smoking 42 years earlier after learning the health risks at school. With his son’s lesson in mind, he set about the task of teaching skills as well as providing tools. He chose to supply purified water at rural public schools, health centers, and clinics where the need has been the greatest.
He also worked with the Ugandan Government to incorporate a water-related health program within their Health and Education initiative. This would educate both primary-aged school children, and health center patients, on the importance of clean water. They would then carry that knowledge back to their families at home, giving a generational foundation for life expectancy improvement and reduction in troubling diseases.
To date, the Fosters, at their expense, have installed purified water systems at schools supporting 2,400 students, and at a health center that supports a population of 140,000. The Fosters founded a 501(c)(3) charity organization called Maji Salama, Inc., to work with the Ugandan Ministry of Health in implementing a water health program for its citizens. Maji Salama is Swahili, for clean purified water, and in accordance with its Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Uganda, the organization’s goal is to install water systems at 12,400 rural schools supporting 7 million children, and 1,100 health centers serving 11 million Ugandans.
For its part, the Ugandan government will implement a water, hygiene, and sanitation education program wherever the purification systems are installed. It will also continue to incorporate lessons into school curriculum and provide health guidelines to patients at medical centers. This might be one of the first times a charity organization and the Ugandan government have joined into a life-saving partnership of this scale, which will improve the life expectancy of Ugandans for generations to come, at a very low cost per person. In the future, water purification equipment (designed by Henry) and their installation will be funded through the Foster Trust and individual donations. The Ugandan Government will fund the health education part of the water health program, as well as the maintenance of the water systems.
For additional information and to find ways to help, visit the Maji Salama Inc. website at majisalama.org.
Sowing Seeds and Changing Lives
Recognizing an opportunity to help ensure a stable food source for Ugandans and maybe a way to help fund the water health program, the Foster’s invested in a farm operation with three other Americans. They realized that by acquiring and developing idle land, they could unlock the potential of Uganda’s rich soils and help ensure a continued food source for Ugandans and the people of East Africa. They first decided to cultivate corn, a main food source among the local population that is used frequently in their daily lives. Twenty-five percent of the profit that the Foster Trust makes from the farm operation will be used in support of the water health program.
Currently the company is one of the leading employers of Ugandans, especially among women and youth in a subsistence-dominated industry. In this environment, the Ugandans are being equipped with technical and business skills in a flourishing industry. They currently employ over 650 people, with women representing a major contingent of the operational and management team in this traditionally male-dominated industry. Over 60% of Ugandans are employed in the agricultural sector, but less than 5% are in wage earning jobs in the sector; meaning that the population spends a lot of time in agriculture, but not in a commercial setting. This opportunity creates a gateway for the employees to flourish.
2019 Secretary of State Award for Excellence
The farm operation is doing quite well as it was one of only four winners of the 2019 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), presented by the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on October 31, 2019, in Washington D.C. This is the 20th year for the award, which recognizes American companies that promote and uphold high corporate social responsibility standards in communities where they do business in third world countries. Other winners include Pepsi and Proctor and Gamble.The Award recognizes the farm operation in the Sustainable Operations category, with it being the largest grain and oil seed producer, and one of the leading wholesalers of agricultural commodities in Uganda. It invests in local communities, sets high production standards, uses sustainable farming methods, pays competitive wages and incorporates cutting-edge technology The farm provides an affordable supply to nourish over 500,000 people in East Africa.
Fostering Support for Widowed/Abandoned Women
During their many trips to the rural regions of Uganda, the Fosters discovered that many women are the sole providers for their families. Many are widowed or abandoned and have children to support and with very little means of doing so. Quite often women engage in subsistence farming to provide food for their families, and money for clothing, medication,school fees for children, and general household care.
Working with a Ugandan non-profit organization, Roz came up with a plan to empower women economically to make them self-sustainable by forming women’s groups and providing them with goats. The groups consist of 10 to 25 women, with membership dependent on being registered with the local council leaders. Each group selects a group leader and receives a start-up number of goats depending on the number of members who will share in the management and care of the animals. Each woman in the group is provided with her own goat and through its offspring are able to eventually establish her own herd. Each group decides when goats will be sold and how money will be spent by a majority vote of members. The goal of the project is to grow the herd in each women’s group to become more sustainable. The project generated so much interest that in May of 2019, Roz called for a meeting of women’s groups at a local school in the town of Mbale that attracted
around 100 women, with many walking 7-10 miles to attend.
Funding was accomplished by soliciting donations from local Americans to purchase “namesake goats” for only $50 per goat. It became a fun project, as people enjoyed having a goat named after someone for a present or themselves, knowing it was going to a good cause. Between 2017 and 2018, 28 goats were purchased and distribute — now totaling 56 goats — with some ready to produce more offspring. One City of Titusville employee’s wife wanted to donate a goat. The husband got involved and thought it would be funny to “get her goat” by naming it “Dawn” after her. Even though he was joking, Roz
soon sent him a picture of “Dawn” the Ugandan namesake goat.
In 2018, some of the farming land which had been previously purchased by the Foster Trust was swapped for 10 acres of grazing land in the rural village of Kata. The idea was to establish their own breeding farm so they would have a continuous supply of goats to donate to the local women’s groups. In 2019, the Fosters provided funding to clear some of the land and build a goat house, a fenced corral and a shepherd house. Labor was provided by local villagers and lumber was transported from nearby mountain forests. Roz purchased household supplies for the full-time, on-site shepherd they hired. May 2019, Roz contacted a goat farm in Western Uganda who donated and transported 20 goats to establish the farm. After a day-long journey, the herd arrived and were inventoried and tagged before being introduced to the shepherd and their new home.
Also hired for the farm were an on-call veterinarian and an overseer who lives in a nearby village and manages the farm. As funding resources from sales increase, future funding expenditures for women’s groups will include providing elevated washstands, fencing for animals to keep them outside of houses, outside toilet buildings, and solar lighting.
If you want a goat named for you or someone you know, it only takes $50.00 to sponsor an animal. These funds are used to support and expand the goat breeding facilities for future women groups. Henry and Roz continue to be busy, both here at home and in Uganda, with no signs of ever slowing down. Their hard work is paying off, and the Ugandan people are benefiting from American’s desire to help those less fortunate. Everyone can play a role in providing these lifesaving resources, so if you would like become a part, or just donate a goat, contact the Fosters at: roz@callhenry.com.
Local Restaurant to Appear on National TV Show
Food Network is hosting the next episode of its show “Restaurant: Impossible” right here in Titusville at the local Loyd Have Mercy restaurant! The program, hosted by Robert Irvine, showcases restaurants that are facing hard times and gives them two days and $10,000 to turn things around.
Loyd Have Mercy has been open in Titusville since 2008. Its founder, Dr. Andrew Loyd, originally opened its doors on South Park Avenue before relocating to Sears Town Mall, before relocating again to its own building on US 1. The restaurant offers guests a variety of dishes including seafood, homestyle cooking, and barbeque.
The grand re-opening will take place on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7pm. Anyone interested in attending the event will want to make a reservation by emailing volunteer@restaurantimpossiblevolunteers.com by 3pm on January 17, with the subject line: 1613 LHM RESERVATIONS.
The episode will air sometime this spring on Food Network. For any questions, contact Loyd Have Mercy at 321-269-1008, or swing by at 3434 S. Washington Avenue.
SR 405 Designated as Honorary Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Boulevard.
For many years, residents in Titusville have been working to get a road in town named in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On January 20, their hard work and dedication will pay off when SR 405 from US 1 south to SR 50 will be given the honorary designation of “Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Boulevard.
The unveiling will take place at the new road sign’s location adjacent to St. James AME Church on South Street, as part of the annual Martin Luther King Day celebrations. On hand for the unveiling will be members of City Council and leaders of the community.
Being an honorary designation, there are no changes to addresses or existing street signage.
Titusville's House of Waffles
C’s Waffles was founded in 1992 by Rick Cotelesse in New Castle, PA. Raised by first-generation Italian parents, Camillo and Ann Marie, to be independent and value hard work, he began his restaurant career as a dishwasher at 14. Over the years, Rick worked his way through the ranks at national chains Perkin’s and Denny’s, learning every aspect of the restaurant business. Now, the company has multiple locations: South Daytona, South A1A New Smyrna Beach, State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Deland, Port Orange, and even a few in Ohio.
Sadly, Rick passed away on January 22, 2018. However his four children and nine grandchildren carry on his legacy, the foundation of which is great food and exceptional service at a reasonable price!
C’s Waffles isn’t just for breakfast. They also serve burgers, wraps, sandwiches, melts, chicken and a whole lot more.
For more information, visit: Facebook.com/CsWafflesTitusville
Star Athletes from Titusville, Florida
For decades, Titusville has been known for its close proximity to native Florida wildlife, waterways, and rocket launches. However, the location of our town is not its only defining factor; it’s the people who live and work here which makes Titusville a unique place to call home. And, every now and then, certain individuals have the opportunity to step out into the spotlight and show the world that small towns can produce big stars too.Example: athletics. Did you know Titusville has produced multiple star athletes over the years? The following list highlights some of the individuals who were either born here, or graduated from school here, and went on to have a career in sports. This is not an all-inclusive list, and we may have inadvertently missed someone. So if you know of any professional athletes we may have left out, please let us know through email at TTP@Titusville.com, and we will print them in a future edition of Talking Points.
Football
John Bostic (NFL) – Born in Titusville, 1962; AHS class of 1981
Detroit Lions - 1985–1987
Michael Cadore, Sr. (World League of American Football); THS class of 1984
Montreal Machine - 1991
Now: Rockledge, Florida City Council
Cris Collinsworth (NFL) – Astronaut HS class of 1977
Cincinnati Bengals - 1981–1988
Now: Game Analyst, NBC Sunday Night Football
Joe DeForest (NFL) – THS class of 1983
Houston Oilers / New Orleans Saints - 1987
Calgary Stampeders (Canadian Football
League) - 1988.
Now: University of Southern California Outside Linebackers Coach
Justin Tyler “J. T.” Hassell (NFL) – Born in Titusville, 1995; AHS class
of 2014
Cleveland Browns - 2019
Wilber Marshall (NFL) – Born in Titusville, 1962; AHS class of 1980
Chicago Bears - 1984–1987)
Washington Redskins - 1988–1992
Houston Oilers - 1993
Arizona Cardinals - 1994
New York Jets - 1995
Now: Lives in Virginia
Latavius Murray (NFL) – Born in Titusville, 1990
Oakland Raider - 2013–2016
Minnesota Vikings - 2017–2018
Now: Running Back (#28), New Orleans Saints
Aaron Walker (NFL) – Born in Titusville, 1980; AHS class of 1998
San Francisco 49ers - 2003–2004
St. Louis Rams - 2005–2007
Baltimore Ravens - 2008
Cleveland Browns - 2009
Gerald White (NFL) – Born in Titusville, 1964; THS class of 1983
Dallas Cowboys - 1987–1988
Miami Dolphins - 1989
Now: Executive Director of Education Is Cool, Get One Inc.
Mixed Martial Arts
Muhammed DeReese (PFL) – THS class of 2007
8 Wins, 2 Losses - 2014–Present
Figure Skating
Four Continents Bronze Medalist - 2014
World Junior Bronze Medalist - 2012, 2013
JGP Final Bronze Medalist - 2012
Now: Represents South Korea
Baseball
Florida Marlins -2006
Kansas City Royals - 2008
Houston Astros - 2009–2011
San Diego Padres - 2011
Bridgeport Bluefish (Atlantic League of Prof. Baseball) - 2013
Soccer
United States Under-23 women’s national
team - 2015–2016
Western New York Flash - 2016
Seattle Reign FC - 2017
Houston Dash - 2018
Basketball
Drafted by Cleveland Cavaliers - 1982 (Released)
Netherlands (EL) - 1987
Boxing
Junior Olympic Boxing Champ - 1997
USA Boxing Under-19 National Champ - 1998
National Golden Gloves bronze medal - 1998
American Boxing Classic Champ - 1999
2x New York Daily News Golden Glove Champ
National Golden Glove Champ - 2000
U.S. Olympic Team Alternate (Sydney, Aus) - 2000
Gold Medal, Olympics - 2004
Olympics
Bronze Medal 4x100 Freestyle Swimming in Seoul, Korea - 1988
Wrestling
WWF/WWE - 1993–1999/2007
Japan - 2002–2004
Water Conservation Awards for Excellence Meritorious Award in the Public Education
In December 2019, the City of Titusville Water Resources Conservation Program was awarded the 2019 Meritorious Award in the Public Education category by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA). The award is given as part of the FSAWWA 2019 Water Conservation Awards for Excellence. The FSAWWA Water Use Efficiency Division (WUED) presents the awards annually in recognition of innovative and outstanding achievements in water efficiency throughout Florida.Titusville Water Conservation received the award for its recent outreach campaign that included promotional video messaging ads that promote the use of native plants in residential landscapes. The two 15-second public service messages are part of the Conservation Program’s renewed focus on outdoor water conservation and improving the health of the Indian River Lagoon. The ads play prior to every movie shown in each auditorium at Epic’s Titusville theatres.
Student Advisory Council News
The City’s 12-Member Student Advisory Council, which consists of high school students (grades 9-12) from Astronaut and Titusville High Schools and the North Brevard Home School Association, has several projects in the works to benefit youth and others in the community. During the 2019/2020 term ( (August through April), the City’s Student Advisory Council is championing the following projects:
- Hosting a one-day, interactive, youth leadership seminar for local high school students on February 27, 2020.
- Supporting the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce “The Longest Table”
- to bring citizens together to foster meaningful conversation and build relationships (est. Feb. 2020).
- Remaking “The Last Dance” video warning youth and the community on the dire consequences of drinking and driving.
City of Titusville Housing Programs
Did you know that the City offers programs to assist low-income households with repairs to their home or to purchase their first home?
Through state and federal grant funds received by the City under the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), the City has developed various housing programs to assist low-income households with making repairs to their existing occupied home or purchase their first home.
Housing Rehabilitation Program
This is a voluntary program designed to assist low-income home owners, who have no other financial means available, with repairs to their home to bring it up to living standards. Through this program, the City will help to provide a decent, safe, and sanitary living environment for city residents, which contributes to a long-term and viable housing stock for the future. The goal of this Program is to provide improvements and repairs. When completed, it will bring existing substandard units into compliance with the Florida Existing Building Code, Minimum Housing Code, and local codes. Financial assistance is provided through a Deferred Payment Loan.
Some examples of repairs provided under the Program are roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, windows, doors, and painting.
This program is available citywide and is not developed to address any particular population or defined by any boundaries.
Applications may be submitted over the phone, on-line, or in person. For more information on the Program and to apply on-line please visit the City’s webpage at Titusville.com. To apply by phone call 321-567-3987. Applications are accepted in person at the Harry T. Moore Social Service Center located at 725 S. De Leon Avenue, Titusville, FL 32780
First Time Home-buyer Program
This Program offers financial assistance to first-time home-buyers for down payment, closing costs, and the reduction of the first mortgage principal to eligible buyers. Assistance is provided in the form of a Deferred Payment Loan as a second mortgage on the home.
The home must be located in the incorporated limits of Titusville and can be new or existing. The home must meet the Standard Housing Code and pass a home inspection. If built before 1978, the home must be inspected for lead-based paint and abated if necessary. Property must have a useful life of at least 30 years.
The new or existing home, including lot, cannot exceed 90% of the Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay Median Area (MSA) Purchase Price, as established by the United States Department of Treasury and provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which is currently $172,000 for existing homes and $227,000 for new construction. The size of the purchased home must be consistent with the requirements for family size as established by local, state, or federal codes.
The following types of properties are ineligible:
- Manufactured or mobile homes
- Condominiums or Time Shares
- Properties located outside the city limits of Titusville
- Properties in which the sales price exceed the MSA purchase price limit
- Properties which do not pass a minimum housing inspection and cannot be repaired by the seller
For more information on this Program, please visit the City’s webpage at Titusville.com, or call Community Housing Initiative at 321-253-0053 to apply.
Titusville Needs You!
Help guide our city into the future. Volunteer and serve on a board or commission.
- Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
- Board of Adjustments and Appeals
- Board of Trustees of the General Employees Pension Plan
- Community Redevelopment Agency
- Municipal Code Enforcement Board
- North Brevard County Hospital District Board
- Historic Preservation Board
- North Brevard Economic Development Zone Dependent Special District Board
- North Brevard Library District Board
- North Brevard Library District Board
- North Brevard Commission on Parks and Recreation
- Planning and Zoning Commission
- Titusville Environmental Commission
- Titusville Environmental Commission
- Titusville Housing Authority
The City of Titusville has a variety of boards, committees, and commissions that discuss and make important recommendations or undertake special activities specific to the purpose of each board. The City's boards and volunteers serve a critical role to the community and the function of city government.
The application and detailed information on each of the city's boards, appointments, and vacancies can be viewed by visiting Titusville.com and the City Clerk's office.
City of Titusville Environemental Education Grant
The application period for the Elementary School Environmental Education Grant Program is now open. The City of Titusville proudly supports educators and their work to facilitate youth-led projects that result in positive impacts to the environment of our schools and community.
For granting guidelines and to fill out an application, visit Titusville.com/EnvironmentalEducationGrant
What is the 2020 Census? How it affects you and your local area
The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data. An accurate count is important; answering the census with complete and accurate information directly benefits our city and state, providing more funding for multiple programs and the economy.
Every ten years, the census records everyone living in the country. On April 1, your household will receive a questionnaire, which can be answered online, by phone, or by mail. Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau.
The questions in the survey will ask you about you and your household, such as: How many people are living in your home? Is the home owned or rented? What is the age of each person in your home? Your personal information is kept strictly confidential. The Census Bureau is bound by federal law to protect your information, and your data is only used for statistical purposes.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
It’s also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.
For more information, visit 2020census.gov.
Upcoming County Events
Movie in the Park: “Shazam!” (2019)
Sand Point Park - Titusville • Fri., Jan. 24; 6:30 – 8:40 pm
PG-13 | 2h 12min | Superhero, Fantasy, Sci-fi
We all have a superhero inside of us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In 14-year-old Billy Batson’s case, all he needs to do is shout out one word to transform into the adult superhero Shazam! Still a kid at heart, Shazam revels in the new version of himself by doing what any other teen would do — have fun while testing out his newfound powers. But he’ll need to master them quickly before the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana can get his hands on Shazam’s magical abilities.
Movie in the Park: “The Princess Bride” (1987)
Sand Point Park in Titusville • Fri., Feb. 14; 7 – 8:40 pm
PG | 1h 38min | Fantasy, Romance
While home, sick in bed, a young boy’s grandfather reads him a fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love: a farmboy-turned-pirate who — after a long separation — must endure numerous obstacles and enemies in his quest to find and save her.
3rd Annual Touch-A-Truck
Sand Point Park - Titusville • Sat., Mar. 21; 9 am – 2 pm
Free event.
Kids of all ages are invited out to interact, play, and learn about awesome machines associated with agriculture, commercial logistics, construction, defense, emergency services, and other one-of-a-kind vehicles.
Movie in the Park: “The Little Mermaid” (1989)
Sand Point Park in Titusville • Fri., Mar. 27; 8 – 9:30 pm
PG | 1h 25min | Fantasy, Animation
In Disney’s beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface — which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton — she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch, Ursula, to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.
Titusville Police News
A total of approximately 80 Law Enforcement and Civilian Search and Rescue K9 teams from across the country assembled in Titusville at the American Police Hall of Fame on December 9th through December 13th for the 2019 North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) Florida State Workshop.
In May 2020, Titusville Police Department will again play host to NAPWDA for the National Training Workshop, which is anticipated to bring over 200 K9 teams and their families to the city. These events bring an influx of visitors and an enormous revenue source to local businesses.
In addition, the many skills and certifications acquired during this workshop become a vital part of law enforcement’s proactive and reactive policing. The Titusville Police Department is truly honored to provide this crucial hands-on training to K9 handlers and their K9 dogs year after year as well as provide a valuable economic boost to the business sector.
As of January 1, 2020, motorists can be stopped AND cited for texting and driving, and/or not using a device hands-free in work and school zones. Do your part - #PutItDown and #FocusOnDriving
Titusville Fire Department News
TFD Raises Awareness and Funds in Support of Parrish Medical Center’s Cancer Care Program
Titusville’s Fire Department presented Jess Parrish Medical Foundation (JPMF) with $3,000 in support of cancer care programs at Parrish Medical Center (PMC).
During the month of October, as part of nationwide and local efforts to raise breast cancer awareness, Titusville Fire Department showed their support by going pink for the cause. Department members sold and wore pink-themed T-shirts in October in place of their uniform shirts in observance of breast cancer awareness month.
For the fifth year, Titusville Fire has generously given back to JPMF and supported PMC’s cancer care program. “Giving back to the community is gratifying for the department,” said Gregory Sutton, Battalion Chief. “To know that we are personally making a difference in the lives of those in our community that need the vital services provided by PMC’s cancer care program means so much. We look forward to developing bigger and better ways to increase awareness and our fundraising efforts as we help advance the great work Parrish is doing to provide healing care for those dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. Adam and Tiffany at Printboy, our local printer, and everyone that purchased T-shirts helped make this donation possible. We are grateful for the enormous support we have received from the community.”
Sutton and members from the Department presented the check to Marsha Richardson, PMC director of oncology services; Tanya Abreu, executive director, JPMF; and Jessie Kirk JPMF board chair.
“Jess Parrish Medical Foundation is proud of our unique community partnership with Titusville Fire Department to fight breast cancer in North Brevard. They have been unwavering in their commitment to help advance PMC’s vision of Healing Families—Healing Communities®,” said Abreu.
“As a breast health navigator, I have witnessed first-hand the impact Parrish’s cancer care program has on the patients and families we serve,” stated Shannon Luker, PMC breast health navigator and oncology program coordinator. “We are grateful to Titusville Fire Department for their generous gift and continued support in the fight against breast cancer. They are a shining example of how our community is stronger when working together. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our patients and their families throughout their cancer journey.”
For more information, please contact Jess Parrish Medical Foundation at 321-269-4066 or visit: parrishmedfoundation.com
Why should the layperson know CPR?
Statistics indicate that 70%-80% of cardiac arrest cases occur either in the home or at public places. In such cases, the person nearest the victim is often a bystander with no medical expertise, such as a relative, an office colleague, or a passer-by. Prompt action, and effective CPR can significantly improve chances of survival.
To address this issue the Titusville Fire Department has begun teaching Family & Friends CPR to the community through a partnership with the Children’s Hunger Project of Brevard County.
The Family & Friends CPR course teaches lifesaving skills of adult Hands-Only CPR, adult CPR with breaths, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR, and mild and severe airway block for adults, children, and infants. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment using the American Heart Association’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which provides students with the most hands-on CPR practice time possible.
The Children’s Hunger Project works with various groups in the community to raise money, and collect food for school age children who are in need. The Project credits Brevard County Public Schools for the effort they put forth by way of offering free and reduced lunches to students in need of such help. However, there is little that public schools can offer in the way of providing food for these children over the weekend, and while not in school. This is where the Children’s Hunger Project steps in, and provides for these individuals.
The Titusville Fire Department offers these CPR courses for free, with a donation of food to the Hunger Project. The benefit of this partnership is twofold; members of the community have an opportunity to learn lifesaving skills, and food is donated to feed hungry children throughout Brevard County.
We have had the pleasure of hosting Family & Friends CPR for various high school groups, and other organizations throughout North Brevard. We plan on continuing this service for our community, with courses typically held on a monthly basis.
Saving lives AND feeding hungry children!... How awesome is that?!
October is the National Fire Protection Association’s month to raise awareness about fire prevention. This year the theme was Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and Practice your Escape. Titusville firefighters may not have a cape, but that didn’t stop them from being heroes during Fire Prevention Week. Engine crews interacted with over 1,000 children at 17 different day care centers and elementary schools during the month. Be a hero in your home and check the batteries in your smoke alarms.
Completed & Open
C's Waffles
C’s Waffles, a restaurant at the Baldwin Plaza in Downtown Titusville,is now open for business.
Olde Bank Tavern
The Grand Martini Bar at 345 S. Washington Avenue is being renovated into the Olde Bank Tavern by Sachin Shenoy.
Rearview Coffee
A new coffee shop has opened in Dairy Plaza at the corner of Singleton and Dairy Road.
River & Main Barber (Relocation)
River & Main Barber Shop recently moved from their original location on Main, and are now located on Washingtone Avenue, next door to Playalinda Brewery.
Historic Spotlight
Brevard County Courthouse
In 1879, Titusville became the seat of government for Brevard County. The first courthouse was a two-story wooden structure built in 1882, on land donated by Col. Henry Titus, founder of Titusville. In 1912, County Commissioners made a controversial decision to construct a new courthouse instead of expanding the old structure. The old courthouse was moved to the back of the site, and later sold at auction. Contractors Lightman, McDonald & Co. of Jacksonville built the 83 ft. by 53 ft. two-story structure of re-enforced concrete for $30,566. Four large concrete colonial columns mark the original main entrance on the east side.
On the north and south entrances there were two small piazzas with one-story colonial columns. Offices of the County Commissioners, Clerk of the Court, Treasurer, Tax Assessor and Collector, Surveyor were on the first floor. The Clerk’s office housed a large fireproof vault, and the Treasurer and Tax Collector’s offices each had fireproof safes. A large courtroom was on the second floor, along with offices for the State’s Attorney, Judge’s Chamber, grand and petit jury rooms.
The office of the County Judge was in the old clerk’s office across the street from the courthouse square. The new courthouse opened for public business March of 1913. In 1926, a three-story wing was added to the west side. Jail cells and warden’s quarters, a kitchen to prepare meals for the prisoners, and a hospital ward were located on the third floor. The sheriff and other county offices, along with an ample vault room, were located on the second floor. The courthouse continues to serve the citizens of Brevard County, and the jail facilities on the third floor are no longer used.
Important City Numbers
- Building Department 321.567.3760
- Business Tax Receipts (Occupational Licenses) 321.567.3758
- City Clerk 321.567.3686
- City Hall Main Number 321.567.3775
- City Hall FAX Number 321.383.5704
- City Manager’s Office 321.567.3702
- Code Enforcement 321.567.3770
- Community Advocate 321.567.3689
- Customer Service (Utility Billing) 321.383.5791
- Economic Development 321.567.3774
- Fire Department (Non-Emergency) 321.567.3800
- Fire Public Education 321.567.3804
- Human Resources 321.567.3728
- Jobline 321.567.3731
- Neighborhood Services 321.567.3784
- Municipal Marina 321.383.5600
- Permits 321.567.3759
- Planning Department 321.567.3782
- Police (Non-Emergency) 321.264.7800
- Police / Fire Rescue (Emergency) 911
- Solid Waste 321.383.5755
- Stormwater 321.567.3832
- Stormwater (After Hours Emergency) 888.399.1327
- Streets Maintenance 321.567.3832
- Water Field Operations (Water Main Break) 321.567.3883
- Water Main Break (After Hours Emergency) 321.383.5657
- Water Resources Conservation Program 321.567.3865
- LED Sign Information 321.567.3689
Important Community Numbers
- Brevard County Auto Tags 321.264.5224
- Chamber of Commerce 321.267.3036
- Department of Motor Vehicles 321.264.5224
- Florida Power and Light 800.577.1156
- City Gas Co of Florida 321.636.4644
- Social Security Office 321.633.8100
- Canaveral National Seashore 321.267.1110
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 321.861.0667
The City of Titusville would like to thank Jesus Vieiro and congratulate him on his retirement after his many years of service as the City’s Purchasing Agent.